Over a decade later, Reggie Bush regains his Heisman trophy, reflecting significant shifts in college athletics and NCAA policies
Reggie Bush has officially regained his 2005 Heisman Trophy title, the Heisman Trust confirmed on Wednesday. The decision comes after years of controversy surrounding Bush’s receipt of impermissible benefits during his tenure at USC, which initially led to the forfeiture of his award.
In 2010, amidst an NCAA investigation, Bush relinquished his Heisman Trophy. At that time, he was a player for the New Orleans Saints. The investigation concluded that Bush had received benefits that were not allowed under NCAA rules, which overshadowed his outstanding college football achievements.
Michael Comerford, president of The Heisman Trophy Trust, expressed enthusiasm about Bush’s reinstatement. “We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” Comerford stated. The Trust’s decision to reinstate the trophy acknowledges the profound changes in the landscape of college athletics over recent years.
Bush originally won the trophy after a stellar season in 2005, where he amassed over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 18 touchdowns. His performance earned him 784 first-place votes, ranking fifth in the history of the Heisman Trophy.
The move to return the trophy to Bush was influenced by several key developments in college sports. These include the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2021 decision challenging the NCAA’s amateurism model and new rules allowing athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness.
The Trust remarked that these significant shifts justify the reinstatement of Bush’s trophy. “Recognizing that the compensation of student-athletes is an accepted practice and appears here to stay, these fundamental changes in college athletics led the Trust to decide that now is the right time to return the Trophy to Bush, who unquestionably was the most outstanding college football player of 2005,” the statement from the Trust explained.
Bush will also receive a replica of his Heisman Trophy, and both he and USC will be formally reinstated in the Heisman records. Furthermore, Bush will be invited to future Heisman Trophy ceremonies, reinstating his status within the collegiate sports community.
